59 Zen Teachings / Lojong Instructions

POINT ONE -Resolve to Begin

1. Train in the preliminaries.

POINT TWO -Train in Empathy and Compassion:Absolute Compassion

2. See everything as a dream.

3. Examine the nature of awareness.

4. Don't get stuck on peace.

5. Rest in the openness of mind.

6. In Post-meditation be a child of illusion.

POINT TWO -Train in Empathy and Compassion:Relative Compassion

7. Practice sending and receiving alternately on the breath.

8. Begin sending and receiving practice with yourself.

9. Turn things around (Three objects, three poisons, three virtues).

10. Always train with the slogans.

POINT THREE -Transform Bad Circumstances into the Path

11. Turn all mishaps into the path.

12. Drive all blames into one.

13. Be grateful to everyone.

14. See confusion as Buddha and practice emptiness.

15. Do good, avoid evil, appreciate your lunacy, pray for help.

16. Whatever you meet is the path.

POINT FOUR -Make Practice Your Whole Life

17. Cultivate a serious attitude (Practice the five strengths).

18. Practice for death as well as for life.

POINT FIVE -Assess and Extend

19. There's only one point.

20. Trust your own eyes.

21. Maintain joy (and don't lose your sense of humor).

22. Practice when you're distracted.

POINT SIX -The Discipline of Relationship

23. Come back to basics.

24. Don't be a phony.

25. Don't talk about faults.

26. Don't figure others out.

27. Work with your biggest problems first.

28. Abandon hope.

29. Don't poison yourself.

30. Don't be so predictable.

31. Don't malign others.

32. Don't wait in ambush.

33. Don't make everything so painful.

34. Don't unload on everyone.

35. Don't go so fast.

36. Don't be tricky.

37. Don't make gods into demons.

38. Don't rejoice at others' pain.

POINT SEVEN -Living with Ease in a Crazy World

39. Keep a single intention.

40. Correct all wrongs with one intention.

41. Begin at the beginning, end at the end.

42. Be patient either way.

43. Observe, even if it costs you everything.

44. Train in three difficulties.

45. Take on the three causes.

46. Don't lose track.

47. Keep the three inseparable.

48. Train wholeheartedly, openly, and constantly.

49. Stay close to your resentment.

50. Don't be swayed by circumstances.

51. This time get it right!

52. Don't misinterpret.

53. Don't vacillate.

54. Be wholehearted.

55. Examine and analyze.

56. Don't wallow.

57. Don't be jealous.

58. Don't be frivolous.

59. Don't expect applause.